Concrete-block molding and setting machine and method of molding



A ril 26 1927.

p E. F. BRAMIN CONCRETE BLOCK MOLDING AND SETTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MOLDING FiledMarch 25. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z6 ,l 6 H I |-I @WKO attenua,

April ze, 1927. 1,626.44?

y E. F. BRAMlN CONCRETE BLOCK MOLDING AND SETTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF' MODDING attorney April 2e, 1927. 1,626,447

E. F. BRAMIN cjoNcRETE BLOCK MOLDING AND SETTING MACHINE AND METHOD 0F MOLDING Filed March 25, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet @invento/n litt Paieniea Apr. 26, 1927.

@UNITED STATE v:3DWIN FULTON BRAMIN, or BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL zoNn, PANAMA.

Application filed Bai-cli 25, 1926. Sci-ia] No. 97,389.-

`'l-'hel present iiivciition relates to improvements in the art: of making concrete blocks, aud thel primary object. is to enable concrete blocks ot' improved qualities to be produced more quickly' and with greater tacility and les` labor than heretofore.

()nc of the objectsl ot' thc invention is thc production of a concrete block by charging the plastic concret c mixture into a mold and submitting the niold and thel concrete mixture contained therein to centrifugal action which will density the concrete to eliminate they presence of voids in the resulting block and render it non-porous, and will remove all air and excess water from the concrete in the mold, thereby insuring rapid setting of the block.

Another object: is to enable a plurality ol molds to he charged uniformly and simultaneously from a distributing point to which the plastic concrete mixture may be supplied with facility as, for example, Jfrom a concrete mixer, whereby a pluralit of concrete blocks of uniform density ant quality will be produced simultaneously in a mini- 1li-um, period of time and with a minimum amount of labor. y

Another object is to enable the surplus water extracted by centrifural action from the molded block to be readily drained ott' and the block trimmed as the mold containing it is removed from the centrifugal machine.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a novel andimproved concrete block molding and setting machine wherein anannular battery of molds is inserted on the 1nside and against the circumferential wall of a rotating cylinderand such molds operate in conjunction with a rotatingdistributor which constitutes mechanical means for charging the molds with concrete, the machine embodying mechanical means for forcing air and water from the concrete 1n the molds after they have been charged, means to sec-ure an automatic control in charging the block molds, so that a proper balance of the machine may be maintained, and automatic means for dressing oif the blocks as the charged molds are removed from the cylinder, andvfor draining otf the surplus waterextracted from the concrete in thev molds, and embodying other features which lenable the production of high quality concrete blocks free of voids and porosity at a `reduced cost cf manufacture resulting from reduction iii labor or increased tion.

ln the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vel'- tical section, of a conci-ete block molding` and produc- 'Y Aeo setting machine embodying the present inf venton with. n

Figure 2 is a view partly in plan and partly ui section, a lport-ion of this figure being shown in section on the lne2--2 of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale ofxone of the. concrete block lmolds and the adjacentportion of the rotatable cylinder. theI mold being shown in and operative in accordance thcrecharging` position in the lcylinder and,

in a press to remove the core of the mold y from the concrete block.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure. 5

showing the core partly removed from the Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view in section showing the,manner of removing the outer member of the mold from the block. f

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the finished block as it appears after removal from the mold.

Figure 9 is a'detail perspective view of thev frame for supporting the block during its removal from the mold.

Figure 10 isa detail perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the distributor dis'k or head which charges the molds.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The present invention is applicable generally to the molding and setting of plastic substances and especially to the molding and setting of concrete in the making of concrete blocks. The invention may be applied to the making 4of blocks of various kinds 'or forms. The machine shovvn in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described in detail is oi. the form generally preferred in carrying out the invention, but it is to be.

understood 'that V the invention is not` restri'eted to' a machine of the precise Conles struction shown as equivalent constructions may be used within the scope of the invention.

In the `machine shown in the present instance, Irepresentsat cylinder which is rot atable preferably in a horizontal plane or about a vertical axis. 'lhis cylinderl is adapted to contain an annular series of block molds, vand in order to enable the, cylinder to accommodate molds of different sizes, it is .preferably constructed in three sections; that is, an upper sect-ion 2, a lower section 3, and an intermediate. or` spacer section 4, the meeting edges of these sec-tions beingflanged, as shown, to receive uniting bolts. By using middle or intermediate sections of different hei hts, moldsof different heights for the \mo ding of blocks of different sizes maybe accommodated.

The upper section 2 of the cylinder is formed with a series of rectangular openings 5 which are located immediately within the inner wall of the circumference of the cylinv der and are suitably spaced circumferentially of the cylinder, these openings being of a size and shape to receive and guide the molds 6 as the latter are inserted and removed. Spacers 7 which are secured to the bottom section 3 of the cylinder extend upwardly between the molds and serve to guide the latter during their insertion and removal, to properly space the molds in operative position, and to till any gaps which would otherwise exist between the inner edges ofthe molds. 'lhe molds, when in position in the cylinder, substantially fill and close the openings 5 in the top thereof, andthe bottoms of the molds are bevelled as at 8 or otherwise formed to produce substantially liquid-tight joints with the bevelled or correspondingly-shaped surfaces f 9 in thd bottom section of the cylinder, openings 1.() beingprovided in the bottom section of the cylinder immediately beneath the re spective molds, which openings, however, are closed by the liquid-tight joints just described when the molds are in operative position.

The molds employed may be of different forms to suit the forms of the blocks to be made. As shown in the present instance, each lnold comprises a core section 6u and an outer or enclosing section 6h, these sections' forming the cavity 6 which is illed with the concrete mixture in molding theblock. A frame 1.1 of flat steel or other suitable material is provided to tit into the cavity ot each mold and the outer mold section 6 is formed with an iii-turned flange 6d against which this frame rests. The inner or core section 6*l of the mold is shaped to receive the flange 6cl and it` ispreferably formed with a flange 6 which overlaps the flange 6". The inner edge of each hole 5 in the top of the cylinder is provided 'with a strip or blade 12 of steel or other suitable material, this strip or blade heilig so positioned that it will scrape the inner face of each mold as the latter is lifted upwardly or removed from the cylinder to the position shown, for cxample, b the dot-and-dash lines in Figure 1, the snrp us`concrete on the inner face of the mold being tlnls removed automatically incidental to the removal of each mold from the cylinder. Y

'lhe cylinder is supported ona table 13, and this table is mounted on a bearing 14 which is preferably of the ball type, as shown. 'lhc tablehas a downwardly extending spindle 15 which is provided with a steady hearing 16 which is also preferably of the ball type, as shown. 14 and 16 for the rotatable table. are mounted 'lhe bearings v in'a stationary frame 17 which may be of any suitable form. ',lhe spindle l5 for the table has a driving pulley 18 fixed thereto, and this spindle is also preferably provided with a brake drum 19 and a cooperating brake band 20, the latter being controlled by a brake lever 2l whereby the rotation of the. cylinder may be quickly arrested after each molding and setting operation has been completed.

A distributor disk or head 22 is provided for charging the molds with the concrete i mixture during rotation of the cylinder. This distributor disk is located co-axially with the cylinder and preferably substantially mid-way of the height of the molds. 'lhe distributor disk receives the concrete mixture through an opening 23 in the top of the cylinder, which may be surrounded by a funnel 24, the concrete mixture being supplied from any suitable source as, for example, a concrete mixer' through a nozzle 25 attached to a supply conduit 26, the nozzle tions during the operation of the n'iachinc. vand different driving meansmay be employed for this purpose( In the present instance, a couuter-shaft`32 is employed, it being mounted in bearings in suitable brackets 33 and having a pair of belt pulleys 34 and 35 thereon. One of these pulleys, the pulley 34 in the present instance, is fixed to the llt) counter-shaft while the other pulley 3 5 is loosely revoluble thereon. A single belt 36 is extended around the pulley 18 ou the spindle 15 of the cylinder, the stretches of the belt being then extended around the pulleys 34 and 35, respectively, and the belt is then extended around the pulley 31 on tbe lower end 'of the distributor disk shaft 27. -Suitably positioned idler rollers 37 supported on.

brackets 38 may be employed to properly direct the belt with respect to the pulleys. By this arrangement, the c lnder will be revolved in one direction` an the distributor disk will be revolved in the op Josite direction, and preferably, at a relativelyhigher speed during rotation of the counter-shaft. The counter-shaft may be driven in different ways. For example, it is driven in the present instance by a belt 39 which passes over a pulley 40 which is fixed on the countershaft and a driving pulley 41 which is fixed on a suitable power shaft 42. The interruption of the drive of the cylinder and distributor head may be acomplished by interrupting the supply of power to the power shaft, or, as shown in the present instance, byshifting the belt 89 from the driving pulley 40 onto a loose pulley 43 on the countershaft, a belt .shifter 44 being provided for this purpose.

The distributor disk which is shown in detail in Figure 10 is constructed with a top working surface which has two extreme vertical angles of discharge which alternate at 90 around the axis of the disk, the surface 22 and a diametrically opposite surface on the disk forming the extreme downwardly inclined angle of the disk surface and a pair of surfaces 22b which are diametrically opposite to one another and spaced 90 around the surface of the disk from the surfaces 22a represent-ing the extreme upwardly in clined angles of the disk surface, the opposite radii having similar angles and all a common center, so that the surface of the disk sweeps into an easy logarithmic curve from a straight extremelower angle of discharge to theextremc upper angle of discharge. A cross-section through the distributing surface of the disk on a diameter which intersects the extreme upper angle of discharge is represented in Figure 1.

The molding of concrete blocks and the setting thereof are accomplished according to thev present invention substantially as fol lows:

The molds 6 are placed in the cylinder through the respective openings 5 in the. top thereof, so that the cavity 6 in each mold is present-ed toward the center ofy the cylinder. the tops. of the molds filling and closing the openings 5 and the bottoms vof thev molds seating around and closing the openings 10 in the bottom of the cylinder. Power is applied to the machine to revolve the cylinder in one direction up to the required speed, and simultaneously the distributor disk is revolved in an opposite direction up 'to the required speed which is preferably higher than that of the cylinder.

The concrete, which has been prepared, 'for example, in a standard mixer, is then supplied, in amount required, through ameasuring box to the inside vof the cylinder through the charging nozzle 25, this nozzle,

which preferably terminates in an elongated restricted opening, serving to restrict the flow of the concrete and to distribute it over' the surface of the distributor disk which is revolving at relatively high speed, this roviding an easy uniform feed for distri ution of the concrete to the molds.

As the molds are being revolved inV an annular path and in one direction by the revolving cylinder and the distributor disk is being revolved in an opposite direction, tbe

concrete will be thrown outwardly by the revolving distributor disk substantially uniformly around the axis of the distributor disk so that it will be distributed over the.

open faces of the molds, thereby sending equal charges to dian'ietrically opposite Y molds, and. charging all molds equally and thus retaining a proper balance of the rotating` cylinder. Moreover, the upwardly inclined and downwardly sloping angles of mold, as is indicated by the lines X and Y- which ieprcsent the extreme upper and lower angles, respectively, thus insuring complete and uniform filling of thel mold cavities from top to bottom, and maintaining. the balance of the rotating cylinder by uniform distribution of the concrete over th'e inner faces of the molds. As the concrete is thus fed to the rotating molds, it is forced into the mold cavities and the mechanical setting of the concrete is immediately started as the result ofthe centrifugal force which squeezes the water and air from the concrete and causes the concrete thus freed from water and air to settle to the outermost portions of the mold cavities due to its greater specific gravity, the water, owing to its lighter specific gravity accumulating as a film or layer, designated A' in Figure 3, at the inner side of the concrete. Such setting of the concrete, although forced. is accomlish'ed in the natural. way. and as it makes itpossible to exclude all air from the -concrete. a substantially perfect block can be produced.

After the molds have been completelycharged and the supply ot concrete to the distributor disk cut olf. the cylinder and the I `ficient to extract all air and excess water from the concrete in the molds, although suficient water is permitted to remain in the llll concrete to prevent it from bonding tb and water which was extracted from the charges of concrete in the molds and which settles on the bottom of the cylinder when rotation of the latter is stop ed, will drain off' from the cylinder throng the respective bottom openings 10. Also, excess concrete which is used to insure full molds and which accumulates on the inner faces of the molds will be scraped oli by the scraper blade 12 which i is located at the inner edge of the top opening 5 for each mold as such mold is lifted incident to its removal, this action of the scraper blade being shown diagrammatically in Figure 4, and the excess concrete thus removed from the mold face drops to the bottom of the cylinder and it may be scraped out through the bottom openings into a `trough or wheel-barrow and thus salvaged and returned to the mixer for use in the molding of the next batch into blocks. After the molds have been removed from the cylinder, the latter may be thdroughly washed out and cleaned in preparation for the next dperaton.

The molded blocks are removed from the c molds in any suitable way, although it is preferable to remove them as follows: Each moldcontaining a concrete block is placed on a box-like support 45 resting onthe base of a suitable press so that the upper ed e of this support which may be recesse as shown, receives the outer'or enclosing section 6b of the mold, and the plungers 46 of the press which may be of a power type arel ,v brought into action against the core section 6 of the mold whereb this core section is forced downwardly an out of the block which still remains in the outer section 6", as is indicated in Figure 6. Durin this o eration, the frame 11 supports the lockwithin the outer section. After the core section of the mold has been removed from the block, the latter, which is now contained in the outer mold section 6*. is placed in another press, so that the frame 11 rests on t e base block 47 of the press and the lower e ge of the outer mold section 6b overlaps the base block, andA plungers 48 of the press which may be of any power type, are brought into actionagainst the upper edges ofthe outer mold section .6", there y forcing block, and the finished b oek an its sup- 7o' port-ing frame maythen be removed from the press so that the block may be carried' to a suitable place for'nal hardenin Fi ure 8 shows the molded or linishe bloc and Fi ure' 9 shows Athe supporting frame 75 remove therefrom.v After washing and cleaning of the mold sections, they may be re-assembled and replaced inthe cylinder preparatory to the next block moldinor and set-ting o era-tion, which is performed by repeating t e cperations set forth above.

The machine may be readily adapted to accommodate molds of different heights to suit blocks of different sizes, by usin intermediate cylinder sections 4 of iferent heights, and in using intermediate cylinder sections of different heights, different distributor disks havin corresponding angles of discharge are pre erably used in order to insure complete and 'uniform distribution of the concrete throughout the vertical heights of the molds.

The present invention provides a method or process whereby concrete blocks suitable for building and other purposes, which are substantially free from voids or porosity, may be made quickly and inexpensive-ly.l The method provided for charging liquid or plastic concrete mixture into the molds enables a large number of molds to be char ed uniformly and simultaneous] and by distributin the concrete uni ormly to the molds, isturbance of the running balance of the revolving cylinder which carries them is avoided and complete filling of all the molds is insured. B subjectin the liquid or plastic concrete ciarges in te molds to centrifugal 'action during the making up of such charges, elimination of air -and surplus water is insured thusenablin the production of blocks which are free rom voids or are denser than blocks as heretofore made, and the settin of the blocks takes place more rapidly, t us enabling the blocks to be removed from the cylinder and from their molds immediately upon completion of the charging of the molds and the centrifugalizing thereof. The discharge of the surplus p or as an incident to the removal of the blockcontaiuing molds from the cylinder saves much time and labor. The machine as here? in shown and' described is well ada ted to carry out the invention and is of t e preferred form, but it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to a machine i of th particular construction or otheror equiva ent apparatus may be used in carryinv` out the mvention.

claim as my invention 1. The method of molding and setting' concrete blocks which comprises revolving a mold for such blocks and concurrently projecting concrete in a path which moves back and forth across the cavity of the mold to charge it with concrete.

2. The method of molding and setting concrete blocks which com rises rotating a mold for such blocks in a circular path with its cavity facing toward the center of rotation, and concurrently projecting concrete from the center of rotation of the mld in a path which vmoves back and forth across the area of the cavit thereof.

3. The method o molding and setting concrete blocks which compr1ses rotating a mold for such blocks in a circular path while the cavity thereof is toward its inner side While projecting concrete back and forth across and throughout the height of the in ner side of the mold.

4. AThe method of molding and setting concrete blocks which comprises rotating an annular row of molds for such blocks in a circular path, and projecting concrete simultaneously on various radii from substantially the center of rotation of the molds against the inner sides of the molds to charge the y cavities thereof.

5. The method of molding and setting concrete blocks which comprises rotating an annularirow of molds for such blocks 1n a circular path While the cavities in the molds are at their inner sides, and projecting concrete from substantially the center of rotation against the inner, sides of the molds in paths which progress across the molds.

6. The method of molding and setting concrete blocks which comprises rotatin an annular row of molds for such blocks 1n a circular path with the cavities of the molds at their inner sides, and projecting concrete centrifugally from the center of rotation of the molds against their inner sides in paths which shift angularly relatively to the plane of rotation of the molds.

7. The method of molding and settin concrete blocks which comprises rotating an annular row of molds for such blocks in a circular path Withthe cavities therein toward the center of rotation and projecting concrete centrfugally and substantially uniformly on various radii from the center of rotation and distributing the concrete so projected uniformly circumferentially and throughout the' height of the row of molds.

8. The method of molding and setting concrete blocks which comprises revolving an annular vseries of molds having the openings of their-cavities toward the center of rotation, feeding a stream of concrete in uid condition in a path substantially in alinement with said center of rotation, and distributing said concrete to the series of molds 'by projecting it outwardly from the stream and at varyin angles to the plane of rotation of the mol s. 4 v f 9. A concrete block molding and setting machine comprising a rotary 'member carrying an annular series of block molds the cavities of which are open toward the center of rotation, and means located substantially at th'e center of rotation for projecting concrete therefrom simultaneously on various radii and thus charging the molds with concrete.

10. A concrete block-holding and setting machine comprising a rotary member carrying an annular series of molds the cavities of which are open at their inner sides, and means located toward the center of rotation to receive a supply of concrete and operative to project the same substantially uniformly on various radii and against the molds and thus charge them.

11. A concrete block molding and setting machine comprising a rotary member carrymg molds, and means including a distributor located substantial] at the centerl of rotation and operative to eed a stream of concrete and to project it substantially uniformly on various radii about said center toward the molds to charge them.

12. A concrete block-molding machine comprising molds arranged in an annular series and having openings at their inner sides leading to their cavities and a distributor disk located toward the center of the series of molds to receive a stream of concrete and rotatable to project the concrete substantially uniformly on various radii toward the molds to charge them.

13. A concrete block-molding machine comprising a series of molds arranged around a common center and adapted t0 be charged from the sides toward said cen- 110 ter, and a distributor located substantially at said center to receive a supply of concretev and rotatable to pro'ect the concrete out-I ward toward the molds,.the Working face of the distributor being forme-d to cause 115 discharge of the concrete at varying angles to its plane of rotation.

14. In a concrete block-molding machine comprising a series of molds arrangedaround a common center and adapted to be j charged from the sides towardsaid center, a distributor for charging the molds. with concrete from said center embodying a re voluble disk having a working surface having portions thereof extending at varying :angles to its plane of rotation.

15. In a concrete block-molding machine having a series of molds arranged in series about a common center and adapted to receive concerete at their inner sides, a distribu- 139 lll() l tor mounted to revolve relatively to the molds i on an axis coincident with said center and operative-to receive and project concrete to annular row in the cylinder and rotatable therewith said molds4 being removable through the upper side of said cylinder and resting therein by gravity, and means for charging the molds with concrete. v

18. A concrete block-molding machine comprising a cylinder rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane and having a series of mold receiving portions which are ogen at their to s, a series of molds remova 1y insertable t rough the tops o'f the mold-receiving portions in the cylinder and formin concrete-confining joints therewith, an means for charging the molds while in the cylinder with concrete.

'adapted for insertion an 19. A concrete block-molding machine comprising aV cylinder revoluble in a horizontal plane and having mold receiving openings in its upper side and vent openings in its lower side, and molds adapted for insertion through the mold receiving o enings and formed at their lower ends to c ose the vent o enings. o j

20. concrete-block molding machine comprising a revoluble cylinder having mold receiving openings therein, molds adapted for insertion and removal through said openings, means for char ingconcrete into the molds while in the cy inder, and a scrapper for removing surplus concrete from the molds during their removal from the cylinder.

21. A concrete block-molding machine comprisin a charging cylinder having an upper mo d receiving opening therein and a vent or discharge openin below it, a mold removal through said upper opening, and a scraper located adjacent to an edge of said upper opening and operative during removal of the mold, to remove surplus concrete therefrom.

22. A concrete block-molding machine comprising a revoluble mold carrying cylinder, a distributor therein for charging concrete into the molds, and an elongated char ing nozzle for directing concrete'onto t e distributor.

23. A concrete block-molding machine comprising a revoluble. mold carrying cylina -hollow 4 cylinder and having a shaft arranged co-v Aaxally within the hollow shaft of the cyl i-n er.

25. In a concrete block-molding machine, a revoluble mold carrying cylinder, an antifriction bearin su porting it, a hollow shaft connecte to t e cylinder and having an antifriction bearing for steadying it, and a revoluble distributor within the cy 1. a shaft arranged co-axia ly ollow shaft of the cylinder indei havin within the 'and supportedby antifrietion bearings.

- 26. In a concrete block-molding machine,

the combination of a revoluble mold carrying c linderhaving a driving pulle necte thereto, a revoluble concrete .utor within the cylinder and having a driving pulley connected to it, a driving shaft istribhaving pulleys which are respectivel fixed and loose thereon, and a common belt engaging all of said dpulleys and tive to revolve the cylin er riving operaand distri utor conveniently in relatively reverse directions. v

27. -In a machine of the class described, the combination of a revoluble cylinder, an oppositely revoluble distributor therein, -means for driving the cylinder and Adistributor and for interrupting such' drive,y

and 'a brake operative on the cylinder for arresting its rotation. l

28. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a revoluble mold ca ing cylinder, a revoluble concrete distri utor therein, means common to the cylinder and distributor for driving them, and means including abelt shifter for su ply'- ing power to and-interrupting the supp y of power to said driving means.

29. A mold carrying cylinder for concrete block-molding ,machines comprising end members to receive the respective ends of molds inserted therein, and an intermediate member between said end membersremovable to permit substitution of other intermediate members to accommodate the cylinder to molds of different lengths.

30. A concrete block mold comprising an -outer enclosing section and an inner core section, the outer section having a lian e thereon for supporting a block in the mo d cavity therein and the inner section'having a cooperating flange for supporting the outer section removably thereon.

31. A concrete block-inold comprisin outer and inner sections which form a mold lll) cavity between them, the outer section having a flange thereon which permits removal ofil the inner section from the outer section and supports a block inthe cavity in the outer section.

32. A concrete block mold comprising I outer. and inner sections which form a mold cavity between them when assembled, and a block-supporting frame adapted to fit into the mold cavity, the outer'section having an inturned iange which cooperates with the inner section to space it and provides an abutment for the block supporting frame.

33. A concrete block-mold comprising outer and core sections spaced to form the mold cavity between them, the outer section having an inturned flange to cooperate with the core section to space the sections and the core section having an out-turned flange which-laps the first-mentioned ange andv registers the sections.

34. A' concrete block mold vcomprising outer and inner sections which form the mold cavity between them when assembled, and a block-supporting frame adapted to fit into the cavity, the outer section having van inturned iange which cooperates with the inner section yto space it and provides an abutment for said supporting frame, and the inner section having an out-turned flange which laps the first-mentioned ange.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand.

EDWN'FULTON BRN. 

